GoFundMe raises $20k as community rallies around burned Lebanon firefighter

In Lebanon firefighter Dave Smiley's darkest days, he's learned how much his local communities support their first responders.

A recently hired career firefighter with the Lebanon City Fire Department, Smiley, 23, volunteers in his off-hours as a live-in captain with the Minquas Fire Company in Delaware. On March 14, he was fighting a house fire in Mill Creek, Delaware, when he fell through the second story floor and suffered burns on 10 percent of his body, according to Facebook posts from his family and reported by Delaware Online.

Smiley was hospitalized at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, in Upland, Pennsylvania. He's still got a long way to go, according to his father, Dave Smiley Sr, including multiple surgeries - the first of which was scheduled for Tuesday.

Still, Smiley Jr. was thankful for outpouring of support he received - including a GoFundMe page set up by his family that has already raised almost $20,000.

"Everyday I wake up I have so many new people to thank," Smiley Jr. said Sunday on Facebook. "Thank you to everyone who has reached out on social media, by texting, calling or in person. Every single interaction has helped me gradually climb this mountain, and I can’t wait until we make it to the top."

Support from Lebanon

Smiley was hired by Lebanon in November 2018, according to Jan Harnish, president of International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1952 in Lebanon.

"In those few short months (since being hired) he has made a huge impact on his co-workers through his compassion and work ethic," Harnish said in a text message. "Dave is the type of aggressive fireman you want showing up when you have a problem."

Local 1952 is working on stickers and T-shirts as fundraisers for Smiley. Once they become available, information on where to purchase them will be posted to the Lebanon City Fire Department Facebook page, he said.

Firefighters from Lebanon have also visited Smiley in the hospital, his father said.

“We appreciate all the support," Smiley Sr. said. 

Support elsewhere

Other efforts to help Smiley and his family include:

• A haircut fundraiser Wednesday at Allison Hook & Ladder No. 2 in the Allison Hill neighborhood of Harrisburg.
• IAFF Local 1400 in Chester, Pa. organized food donations.
• Minquas Fire Company in Delaware is holding a cornhole tournament on March 30 to benefit Smiley.
• Allen's Auto Appearance in Springfield, Pennsylvania is covering payments for a truck owned by Smiley for the rest of 2019. 
• Proceeds from a periodic slow-pitch softball tournament in Delaware that supports families of public safety personnel announced it will give all proceeds from an upcoming tournament to Smiley and his family. 

How you can help

In addition to donating at the GoFundMe page and supporting fundraisers, people who would like to drop off cards, gift cards, or other items for Smiley and his family can bring them to City Fire Station #1 at 700 S. 8th St. in Lebanon, Harnish said.